Parks board set to vote on new beach-restaurant plan for English Bay

A new restaurant would replace the present concession stand near the corner of Denman and Davie streets. Under the deal, the parent company of the Cactus Club Cafe chain would give the parks board a guaranteed annual rent of $240,000. The parks board votes on Monday.

Photograph by: Gerry Kahrmann file
, The Province

West End residents and visitors will both get a new, upscale beachside eatery — if the Vancouver parks board approves a lucrative deal Monday with Cactus Restaurants Ltd.

The restaurant would be replace the present concession stand near the corner of Denman and Davie streets.

Under the deal, the parent company of the popular Cactus Club Cafe chain — which has 20 locations in B.C. and Alberta, generating $115 million annually in sales — would give the parks board a guaranteed annual rent of $240,000, plus an additional four per cent of all revenues over $4 million annually.

The current concession had a net profit of $63,000 in 2009.

Board chairman Aaron Jasper told The Province he had concerns about the proposed English Bay Bistro when he was with the West End Residents Association, but he supports the proposal now.

“They build it, we own it and they operate it there,” said Jasper. “It’s actually a really good deal.

“These are revenues that we can put back into the services we provide,” he said. “For us, it’s a win-win.”

The proposed agreement would be reviewed after the first five years, with Cactus having the option for additional five-year options.

The board would also reimburse Cactus $50,000 plus financing costs annually for five years for site improvements outside the leased area.

The restaurant would have 79 indoor seats, 70 outdoor seats and 48 outdoor seats for patrons who wish to use the new facility’s takeout concession.

According to a staff report, “they intend to offer lower-priced fare with a far greater selection than traditional concession fare.”

Construction would begin after Labour Day and the new restaurant would open in June of 2011.

There was also positive news about two other parks board operations: the Bloedel Conservatory and the Stanley Park Children’s Farmyard, which were facing closures because of budget shortfalls.

Jasper said several groups attended a question-and-answer session about the Bloedel Conservatory, and the Van Dusen Garden Association is working on a proposal to take over the facility with the Friends of Bloedel group.

Another four groups attended an information session about the farmyard.

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A new restaurant would replace the present concession stand near the corner of Denman and Davie streets. Under the deal, the parent company of the Cactus Club Cafe chain would give the parks board a guaranteed annual rent of $240,000. The parks board votes on Monday.

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